Picks&Pecks Editorial: Saluting Solano's talent

Talent was the key word in Solano County news this week. We read about talent residents, celebrated talented entertainers, and welcomed new talent to the community. So this week, The Rooster salutes the talented and those wise enough to encourage them.

We'll start with the 2014 Singer-Songwriters' Competition which wrapped up this week with the 12 finalists singing their hearts out for top honors at the newly renovated Theatre Deville in Downtown Vacaville.

The Downtown Vacaville Business Improvement District hosts the annual competition and gets a pick from the Rooster for bringing such a fun time to the community. Also earning picks ree this year's talented winners. The top honors went to Jim Rowdy and his son, Jim, for their high energy rockabilly style. Second place went to Jamie Havoc and there was a tie for third with Larz De'Lago and Angel Avenue (a group of 4 teenage high school freshmen) sharing the honor.

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The Rooster also sends kudos to the athletically talented Vanden High School Girl's Basektball team. While they fell in the NorCal Division III Semi-finals this week, their trip to the playoffs was nothing short of wonderful. They finished their season with a 25-7 record and advanced to the semi-final for the first time ever. Be proud, Viking girls! A pick.

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Sheriff Tom Ferrara welcomed 43 new employees to his department this week. It was a packed house at a celebration to greet the new talent that included correctional officers, deputies and support staff. The goal was to fill new vacancies created by realignment and retirements and to prepare for a new jail scheduled to open this summer and was a welcomed boost after more lean staffing seen in the wake of the recession. A pick to the department and congratulations to the newly employed staffers.

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The Rooster is always happy to read about the success of local residents and so a pick goes to Vacaville High School alumni Andy Gowan who has been making a name for himself in the world of television as the talented music supervisor for the past nine seasons on "How I Met Your Mother." The show is wrapping up its successful run on March 31 and what is Gowan planning? Why, a trip to Vacaville, of course. Way to represent, Andy!

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And speaking of representing, there are a couple of picks to hand out to our neighbors in Dixon this week. Dixon veteran Reg. Lt. Col. Robert "Bob" Ikelman was recently honored as that city's Veteran of the Year. It was an excellent choice of someone whose service didn't end when he retired from the military. Ikelman has been active in the Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion and serves as a director and chaplain at the local V.A. cemetery, among a host of other activities too long to include in this space. A pick to the city for selecting Ikelman and a pick to him for using his many talents to more than earning the honor.